caravela: orla
Francisco Espregueira
A breeze from Salvador, from Praia, from Lisbon comes in, as a spring prelude. That breeze is called Orla, Caravela’s debut LP that is released now by None More Records. Deeply attached to Afro-Brazilian rhythms and contemporary jazz approaches, Orla also drinks from a diverse range of textures and influences, reminiscent of Radiohead or electric-era Miles Davis. This project follows the band’s debut EP from 2017, and showcases their growth musically, digging deep into Brazilian and Cape Verdian music to develop their songwriting and sound.
A recent period living in Bahia was fundamental in the band’s creative process, allowing them to interact with local musicians. That experience, alongside a wide range of influences, helped Caravela to deliver a stunning set of seven contemporary songs that masterfully reinterpret musical heritages that are connected by the Portuguese idiom. While the lyrics are touching on social and environmental issues in both Brazil and Cape Verde, as well as reflections on modern life, Caravela’s Orla does not shy away from its London influence, represented in their deep and infectious grooves that are the basis from which they deliver a beautiful album. Via None More Records, Orla is available in vinyl.
Caravela:
Inês Loubet Franco - Vocals
Telmo Sousa - Electric & Nylon String Guitar
Joseph Costi - Piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer & Synthesizers
Greg Gottlieb - Electric & Double Bass
Ben Brown - Drumkit
Jansen Santana - Percussion, Backing Vocals
Guests:
Dizraeli - Vocals on "Um e Meio"
João Mendes - Steel String Guitar on "Solta o Sinal"